Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Mmmmm, we're getting to the conclusion that momentarily we seem to prefer male singers, why is that? This week we have Gavin DeGraw, male for sure, but... there's definately a female touch here, it's the eyes and the smile that confuses us. So therefore a non facial picture!

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

...what some of your colleagues are doing after they quit their regular day job? Some of them you know they have other passions, but I think it's only fair to say that of the majority of your colleagues, you simply haven't got a clue.

I find it a sheer pleasure to see people discovering their passion and living it every day of their life. Like Irma Braat, one of my ex colleagues, knowing her in her role as a loyal assistant, not as an excellent artist.

I visited her in her atelier here in Amsterdam, love the colours she uses, and her portraits are amazing.

Irma has been painting all her life, but Stephan Peters was the one who really woke up Irma's passion for painting. When he traded Amsterdam for Apeldoorn it was very hard to find a substitute of the same caliber. But she found one, Luk van Driessche, who taught her the technical tricks of the trade. She decides to follow up and starts her four- year study at the Wackers Academy, finishing it at 2006 while being pregnant and still working her day job. And, as there is no such thing as coincidence, circumstances were at a point that favourable that she could take the big step and live her passion.

And she's doing well, so well indeed that every thing she paints is sold straight away. So this year's goal is to make a series of paintings with a specific theme and if all goes well an exposition.

Want to see more of Irma's work?
- On 4 June, the start of the exposition 'Noordwijk schildersfestival' at the N.H. Kapel, Hoofdstraat 96 in Noordwijk
- On 7,8 and 9 October an exposition with the Dutch 'Portretschap'at Loods 6, KNSM-laan in Amsterdam.

Want to learn from Irma? From 22-26 August, she will teach a whole week of portrait painting at the Wackers Academy.

Monday, 16 May 2011

Monday, 9 May 2011

Ever heard of Handmade Heaven, it's a shop, workplace, atelier where all creatives, young or old can gather, either making stuff, getting inspired or buy lots of things to create at your own place.

I found the place only last week and I love it (my daughter even more). So good thing is they have on the 28th of May the 'Kinder Doe Parade'! and mothers take notice: it's not only for the girlies, they have the 'Toolkid Timmer Tafel' for the boys (starting from the age of 4). And while the kids are doing their stuff you can relax en enjoy your picnic.

Friday, 6 May 2011

Liefgoed picks out her own selling points so you won't find our cards on every corner of the street. It was therefore quite amazing to find out that two of our hand picked retailers Het Grote Avontuur in Amsterdam and Huis van Alijn in Gent (Belgium), have a get together for a couple of months.

Till August 2011 Het Grote Avontuur will have the POP UP photo exposition 'proud of my car' of the museum Huis van Alijn at her shop & nice products from the museum for sale as well. Definitely worth a visit!

Listening to a top 1000 on the radio in the car (forced of course as I don't listen to the radio ever), I heard a song from a guy called Kurt something don't know what the number was, haven't found it yet, but I did found lots of other songs and the fact that he won World Idols.

A brand born from the creative minds of two friends, Joyce & Monique. Sharing their imagination, using the old, mixing it with the new, creating a product which is sweet 'lief' & good 'goed'. Sweet in the sense you want it, good in the sense: good for the environment. This blog is about what inspires us, things we love & updates. Thanks for coming around.
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What else? Well Joyce is married, having two small childeren, and one large one, a cat, has her own palmistry practice. Hates cooking but realizes its a necessity having a family. Vegetarian. Loves Bali & can't wait to move there permanently.
Monique has two dogs and two chicken who refuse to do their job. Works at a financial advising agency. Is dieing to come back to Amsterdam. Drives a very cool cabrio, adores the sun and long walks on the beach. Likes gardening (minus the worms). She does like cooking (that's why she picks the recipes). Loves Pearl Jam, but Joyce refuses to have that on the blog.